A 19-year-old Syracuse University student is suspected of having contracted the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus, known as SARS, SU spokesman Kevin Morrow said.

The student complained of a fever and respiratory symptoms April 13 after returning from a trip to Toronto with his fraternity brothers. The student was admitted to Crouse Hospital, where he was treated in isolation and discharged April 18.

On Monday the Center for Disease Control expanded its criteria for suspected SARS cases to include anybody exhibiting symptoms who has recently traveled to Toronto. Because the student’s case fell under the new criteria, the student was informed that he would have to return to isolation for a 10-day period. Morrow said that the student elected to return to his home for that period, rather than return to isolation in Syracuse.

Of the more than 220 cases of SARS reported in the U.S., the student is only the fourth suspected case to be reported in Onondaga County. The other three cases were reported in infants recently adopted in China.

Morrow said that SU Health Services has been in contact with the student, as well as his roommates and his girlfriend. So far, none have experienced SARS-like symptoms.

“We feel that it is very unlikely they will develop any symptoms,” Morrow said.

Although the student lives in university housing, there are no plans to quarantine or monitor other students living in the same building or the fraternity brothers.

The student is a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Adam Slater, a junior political science major and president of Sigma Alpha Mu, would neither confirm nor deny that the student is a member.

“As of right now, everything is completely under control,” Slater said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those dealing with this epidemic, both over the border in Canada and in the Far East.”

The university will continue to remain in close contact with the Onondaga County Health Department, Morrow said. On Tuesday, Health Services officials met with Health Department officials to discuss procedures for handling suspected SARS cases and ways of responding to student concerns about the disease.

Students who are concerned about being exposed to the disease or believe they are experiencing SARS-like symptoms should contact SU Health Services, Morrow said. The Onondaga County Health Department has said that the individuals with whom the student came into contact are at very low risk for contracting SARS.

Do you have SARS?SU Health Services is setting up a triage mechanism for students who believe they may have contracted SARS. Here are the Center for Disease Control’s criteria for a suspected SARS case:

n Cold-like respiratory symptomsn A body temperature of greater than 100.4 degreesn Travel to areas reporting cases of SARS within seven days of onset of illness (the people’s republic of china (including hong kong); hanoi, vietnam; singapore; toronto, canada)

SU spokesman Kevin Morrow advises students who believe they meet these criteria to contact Health Services. Those with concerns can also visit the Health Services Web site at http://students.syr.edu/parents/sars-faq.pdf

Published on April 22, 2003 at 12:00 pm